YOST2241: Experiential Learning

Youth work is often described as "highly experiential" and transformative. But what does that mean? Youth workers understand, sometimes intuitively, that "learning by doing" makes sense, but why? Is all experience equally valid, moral, and educative? What makes an experience educative or mis-educative? What is the difference between experiential education and experiential learning? This course will explore a range of definitions given to experiential learning and will lay a sound theoretical foundation for understanding it, particularly in the context of youth work. This class is interactive and uses hands-on and in-the-field learning in its instruction. In any given class, students may hike, rock climb, practice meditation, engage in animal therapy, canoe, visit gardens, outdoor STEM classrooms, or simply go on the lawn outside of the classroom in order to engage in youth-work “icebreakers” and “games.” The intention in this is to learn by doing and to learn about by simultaneously learning how to! Through experience, you will learn about the importance of place and history in experiential education; multiple theories and practices of experiential education, including the Learning Cycle Theory and educative and mis-educative experiences; methods of reflection and assessment, group facilitation, leadership skill development in youth; and values curiosity and the outdoors.

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